Barbara Ellen Sampson's Obituary
Barbara Ellen Sampson passed away on May 7, 2018. She was born to Carl and Cora Reeves in Wichita Falls, TX on October 15, 1938. She spent most of her childhood years in Abilene, TX. After graduation from high school, she attended North Texas State University in Denton and was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. After earning a degree in Education, she moved to Denver, CO. to pursue a teaching career. There she met her future husband, Jim Sampson. They were married on December 1, 1962 and remained in a caring and loving relationship for 55 plus years. Following a few moves around the country, they settled in Richardson, TX in 1973.Barbara continued teaching until their children were born. She then stayed at home, caring for and nurturing them until both reached school age. She was very involved in her children’s lives as room mother, school carnival chair, soccer mom, and PTA volunteer in addition to many other volunteer positions involving them. She enjoyed being a docent at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, especially during the Pompeii exhibit in 1979. She also shared her gift of hospitality with tourists visiting Dallas by being a local tour guide. In 1980, she and a friend formed a children’s clothing rep agency, Schafer & Sampson, and operated out of their showroom in the Dallas Apparel Mart, representing manufactures of children’s clothing until 2003.For the past 25 years, she has devoted much of her life to being the doting grandmother to seven grandchildren. She was a kind, loving and involved “Grammy/Mammy” that was absolutely adored by all of them. It was this capacity for love, nurturing and caring that led to her involvement in her later life with animal rescue organizations. For the last few years she has served as a volunteer for Feral Friends Community Cat Alliance, participating in their Trap/Neuter/Release program for feral cats and has also been a feeder to three feral cat colonies. At the same time, she has been as a volunteer at Take Me Home Pet Rescue, an organization that provides foster care and adoption services for cats and dogs needing homes.Barbara is survived by her husband, Jim Sampson, a daughter, Carrie McCravy and her husband Dewey of San Antonio, TX, a son, Kyle Sampson and his wife Kelli of Houston, TX, a sister, Ann Goodhart and her husband Jim, of Palos Verdes Estates, CA., a niece, Erin Goodhart of New York City, a nephew, Jeff Goodhart of Los Angeles and seven grandchildren, Abby Sampson, Lindsay McCravy, Hannah McCravy, Connor Sampson, Kelsey McCravy, Jack Sampson and Garrett McCravy.Barbara’s wishes were to be cremated and for her ashes to be scattered with Jim’s upon his death. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Sunday, July 8,2018, at 3:00PM at Restland Wildwood Chapel.In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Take Me Home Pet Rescue (tmhpr.com), Feral Friends Community Cat Alliance (feralfiends.org) or an animal care organization of your choice.
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